Oyster opener



Oct. 30, 1923. 1,472,179

' l P. c. LOFLAND OYSTER OPENER Filed Feb. 8, 1923 E C. Lafl'arz i in the art to which it release ou. 3o, 1923.

PETER C. LOFLANID, OF llILTON, DELAWARE.

OYSTER OPENER.

Application led February 8, 1923. Serial No. 617,784.

To @ZZ w kom t may Vconcern Be it known that I, PETER C. LorLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milton, in the county 03E Sussex and State of Delaware have invented certain new and useful improvements in Oyster Openers; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled appertains to make and use the salue. Y

rihe invent-ion provides an implement whereby the inexperienced may open oysters, clams, mussels and analogous bivalves 1 without injury to the hand and which may be 1used to advantage by the experienced,

sini-e the implement includes a guard which constitutes a shield and prevents the bivalve injuring the hand holding the opener.

@ther objects and advantages will be ap- )arent and suggest themselves as the nature oll the invention is understood.

While thedrawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet dilerent conditions and requirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details oic construction may be resorted to without departing from the nature of the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings Vtori/ning a part of the application.

Figure l is a side view of an opener illus'- trative of the invention, thev dotted lines indicating the hand holding` the same,

Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section of the handle, the full lines showing the guard extended, as when entering the point of the blade between the valves of the oyster, and the dotted lines showing the guard moved inward into the position assumed when the blade has passed between the valves to sever the same from the meat, and

`Figure 3 is a front view of the device.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the `following' description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The numeral l designates a suitable handle to which is attached a blade 2 in any preferred way and in which is formed a longitudinal opening comprising a constricted portion 3 and an enlarged portion A rod 5 is slidably mounted in the lon- 55 gitudinal opening and has an enlargement 6 at its inner end which constitutes a stop to limit the outward movement of the rod, said stop being disposed to operate in the enlarged portion 4 of the longitudinal opening. A plate 7 is attached to the outer end of the rod 5 and constitutes the guard and is provided with an opening 8 through which the blade 2 passes. The plate 7 is slidably mounted upon the blade 2 and is limited in its outward movement by the stop 6 engaging the inner end of the enlarged portion 4 of the longitudinal opening. A plug 9 closes the outer or rear end of the enlarged portion 4 of the longitu- 7 dinal opening.

When the implement is in use, it is held in the hand in any convenient way and the index linger engages a side of the blade near the point with the guard 7 forward of the Enger to prevent injury to the finger or hand inthe event of the blade slipping or passing suddenly between the valves of the oyster whenopening the same. An implement of the nature disclosed obviates the necessity of wearing shields upon the hand, which is objectionable because of the collection of dirt, broken shells and the like, thereby being unsanitary and furthermore because of the inconvenience experienced because of the wet and unsanitary condition of such shields.

What is claimed is:

An opener of the class described having a handle, a blade extending from the handle, a rod substantially parallel with the blade and slidably disposed in an opening eX- tending longitudinally of the the handle, means to limit the outward sliding move-- ment of the rod, said blade and rod being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the handle, a guard on the rod adjacent its outer end, said guard having an opening through which said blade mentrby saidnger simultaneously with `its extends, the guard being relatively close to engagement of the blade. l0

the handle and unobstructed lat the inner In testimony whereof I aiix my signature surface of a portion thereof on a line passf in presence of tWo Witnesses.v

5 ing transversely through the rod and knife, y PETER C. LOFLAN'D.

said portion being of a, sizeA to constitute an Witnesses: v abutment for a finger on the FiAnig CAREY, l the handle and being adaptedfor engage-t" TioMAs H. DOUGLAS. 

